Eumenides

Aeschylus

Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.

  1. I pray that discord, greedy for evil, may never clamor in this city, and may the dust not drink
  2. the black blood of its people and through passion cause ruinous murder for vengeance to the destruction of the state.[*](The expression of the thought take reprisals in a civil war, is overloaded and the grammatical relation of the words is involved. More exactly: seize greedily (as a wild beast seizes his prey) upon calamities—of vengeance—to the State, calamities in which blood is shed in requital for blood.)
  3. But may they return joy for joy in a spirit of common love, and may they hate with one mind; for this is the cure of many an evil in the world.
Athena
  1. Do they not then intend to find the path of good speech?
  2. From these terrible faces I see great profit for these citizens; for, if you always greatly honor with kindness the kindly ones, you will surely be pre-eminent, keeping your land and city in the straight path
  3. of justice.
Chorus
  1. Farewell, farewell, in the wealth allotted to you by fate. Farewell, people of the city, seated near to Zeus, the beloved of the beloved maiden,
  2. learning at last the way of wisdom. The Father stands in awe of you, since you are under Pallas’ wings.
Athena
  1. Farewell to you also; but I must lead the way to show you your dwellings
  2. by the sacred light of these, your escorts.[*](The Chorus is now to be solemnly conducted to the cave beneath the Hill of Ares, the seat of the worship of the Venerable Ones (Σεμναί, l. 1041), with whom the poet here identifies the Erinyes, the Angry Ones, the Avenging Spirits. The identification seems also to include the Eumenides, the Kindly Ones, who were worshipped at Sicyon, at Argos, and in Attica at Phlya and Colonus (see Soph. OT). The procession is formed by Athena (at its head), the Chorus, the Areopagites, torch-bearers, the women who guard the Palladium, and various others. In the rear came the Athenian public.) Go, and, speeding beneath the earth with these solemn sacrifices, hold back what is ruinous to the land, but send what is profitable for the city to win her victory.
  3. You who hold the city, children of Cranaus,[*](Cranaus was the mythical founder of the rocky city (κραναός rocky), a favourite name of Athens.) lead on their way these new dwellers here. May there be good will in the citizens in return for good done to them!
Chorus
  1. Farewell, farewell, again, I repeat,
  2. all you in the city, both gods and mortals, living in Pallas’ city; if you duly revere my residence among you, you will not blame
  3. the chances of life.
Athena
  1. I approve the words of your invocation, and will escort you by the light of gleaming torches to the places below and beneath the earth, with the attendant women who guard my image
  2. in duty bound. For the eye of the whole land of Theseus will come forth, a glorious troop of children, matrons and a band of old women. Dress them honorably in robes dyed scarlet, and let the torches’ light move on,
  3. so that this kindly company of visitors to our land may show itself afterwards in blessings that bring prosperity to men.
Chorus of the Processional Escort
  1. Go on your way to your home, children of Night: mighty, lovers of honor, children, yet aged, under kindly escort—
  2. you who dwell in the land, refrain from inauspicious speech!
Chorus of the Processional Escort
  1. Under the primeval caverns of the earth, gaining the high honor of worship and sacrifice—all you people, refrain from inauspicious speech!